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There has never been a better or more exciting time to own a business in Tennessee. In December 2019, Forbes released their list of rankings for The Best States for Business 2019. Forbes analyzed 40 metrics to determine the best business environments, and Tennessee placed 7th overall, beating old favorites like Washington and Colorado. One factor that makes Tennessee so great is the plethora of resources available to entrepreneurs and business owners. Given the amount of information online, it can be hard to pinpoint these resources without getting overwhelmed; with this in mind, we have compiled a list to help you start taking advantage of all that Tennessee has to offer:
TSBDC search engine for statewide small business training
TSBDC, or the Tennessee Small Business Development Center, exists solely to support Tennessee’s small business owners. Their website is a fantastic starting point when looking for local resources. The link above leads to a search engine where you can find live training in person as well as online training options – all for the goal of improving your small business.
TSBDC free downloads for small businesses
If you would like to some research before seeking out training, there are a number of resources available through TSBDC that you can download instantly.
Launch Tennessee’s VEP
Launch Tennessee is the ultimate startup resource in the state, offering support for every part of the startup lifecycle. Their whole website is worth exploring, as they offer many different types of support, but we’ve linked you to the page for their Virtual Entrepreneurship Program. The program is an adult education initiative for entrepreneurs or aspiring entrepreneurs designed to guide you along your business journey.
iRis post: Ways to Grow Your Small Business With Technology
At iRis Networks, we know a thing or two about running a strong business in Tennessee as well. The link above will lead you to our post about leveraging technology to grow your small business.
Knoxville Resources:
Built to develop, support, and promote East Tennessee’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, The Innov865 Alliance hosts Innov865 Week as well as a number of other events for entrepreneurs throughout the year.
UT Knoxville’s Haslam College of Business Calendar
Check UT Knoxville’s calendar for events hosted by the Haslam College of Business.
Knox Chamber small biz mentoring
The Knoxville Chamber offers two programs designed to aid growing small businesses in the area.
Nashville Resources:
Visit the link above for small business events and business resources and news.
SCORE’s small biz training workshops & networking for middle TN
Learn from the experts with SCORE’s small business training workshops. You can easily find an instructor-led training course online or in person to fit your needs.
Nashville Chamber small business resources
Nashville’s Chamber of Commerce offers several types of small business resources, including events through their Business Studio, a site dedicated to “Nashpreneurs,” and a program called Leadership Connect.
Nashville entrepreneur center’s podcast
The NEC podcast Navigate is dedicated to shining a light on Nashville’s entrepreneur ecosystem. Get inspired and informed in the comfort of your own home with this podcast.
Nashville’s Entrepreneur Week (May 2020)
Nashville’s Entrepreneur Week is a FREE week of education, collaboration & connection. Whether you’re just starting out or running an established business, you will find something worthwhile at NEW.
Oak Ridge Resources:
Oak Ridge Chamber small biz seminars
The Tennessee Small Business Development Center offers no-cost and low-cost training for potential business owners in addition to existing businesses.
Oak Ridge small biz start-up services via Oak Ridge SBDC
Oak Ridge SBDC provides small business startup services like business plan development and financial planning assistance as well as training events throughout the year.
About iRis Networks
We deliver the fiber-based, next-generation network and infrastructure businesses need. We’re bringing ultra-high-speed voice, data and Internet solutions to over 250 communities, reaching across Tennessee and parts of Alabama, Georgia and Kentucky.
